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Department policy by erasing the hard drive of an agency-issued computer without the permission of the Chief of Police or Systems Administrator. Deputy Chief Kenny Norris notified Chief Hobley-Burney of his findings on November 15, 2022.
A Fort Pierce Police Officer resigned after intentionally erasing all information from his departmentissued computer before turning it in. On June 15, 2022, Officer James Ippolito returned his agency-issued laptop computer to the Fort Pierce Police Department Information and Technology Department. When I.T. did a systems check, they found no data on the hard drive. Ippolito admitted to "resetting" the computer but said he was unaware he had erased all data from the hard drive. Ippolito, an agency training officer, told investigators he removed training documents and materials so I.T. could reissue the computer. An internal investigation revealed that Ippolito violated Fort Pierce Police
Two months later, Ippolito, resigned as a Fort Pierce Police Officer. In his resignation letter to Chief HobleyBurney, Ippolito wrote, "I understand you are willing to waive the two weeks notice in order for me to resign in good standing this week." In March 2023, Deputy Chief Robert Riddle notified the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that Officer Ippolito voluntarily separated from the Fort Pierce Police Department. Since Chief Hobley-Burney has been police chief, 128 police officers have left the agency - primarily to voluntary separation. "Officer Ippolito’s abrupt resignation from the Fort Pierce Police Department proves the hostile work environment the Police Chief creates and questions her integrity,” said Community Activist and Sweeties owner Rick Reed. Erroneously reporting that an officer voluntarily separate after they wipe a computer hard drive clean is troubling.”
A kinky cop once roamed the streets of Fort Pierce in a patrol car with a gun and police badge. Fort Pierce Police Officer Doug McNeal resigned in 2021 after two separate investigations of his raunchy night-beat patrols. In 2018, McNeal arrested a Melbourne couple for shoplifting at Walmart. An internal Affairs investigation revealed McNeal placed the couple in the back of his patrol car without securing their seatbelts. McNeal did not handcuff the male prisoner and put the female prisoner's handcuffs in front of her. On the way to the County Jail, McNeal allowed the couple to kiss and cuddle in the back seat while he played "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" by Barry White. The ride to the slammer was so good McNeal even allowed the couple a quick smoke before they went into lock up.
McNeal was suspended for 20 days, and Fort Pierce Police records don't mention if the police followed up with the Melbourne couple nine months later. The suspension did little to stop McNeal's naughty behavior. In 2021, McNeal arrested a naked lady at the Lion's Den Adult Super-
store for petty theft and lewd and lascivious behavior. The woman allegedly removed a sex toy from a display case and got carried away. The store could not immediately produce video surveillance, so McNeal recorded the video on his cell phone and began showing other officers because he told investigators it was "crazy and funny." McNeal couldn't resist. He went back to the Lion's Den, off duty, in plain clothes, to download the video to his personal USB drive. McNeal quit after an investigation revealed he improperly got surveillance video of a woman apparently engaged in a sex act “for his personal use.”
Days before the Fort Pierce Police Department held its annual "Unity in our Community" event, a triple shooting on Avenue D showed us how divided our city is. The shooting left two men dead, one critically injured, and residents protesting in the streets.
Deals Smoke Shop. Moments later, police officials say the store clerk, Alah Nawef Shehadeh, shot all the men except Wyche. According to Wyche's mother, Deloise Shelton, her son called 911 after the shooting.
The double murder occurred near the corner of 25th Street and Avenue D, where residents have long complained of criminals preying on them and business owners mistreating them.
When officers arrived, Shehadeh was holding a handgun in one hand and a magazine in the other. He drooped both before surrendering. Police located two victims inside the store and one on the ground just west of the business.
On July 15th at 7:40 pm, Javar Wyche, Kenny Lifhred, Roderick Lampkin & JJ Bryant went to the Fire
According to Shelton, Fort Pierce Police Officer Tiffany Warren arrived on the scene and detained her son by
said. While the victim's friends and family were protesting, Officer Warren showed up, and the situation escalated between her and Wyche with threats of arrest.
After that, the City Police stayed across the street each day of the protesters demonstrated. placing him in a chokehold. Wyche was later released and the victims were transported to Lawnwood Hospital, where Lifhred and Lampkin died.
Shehadeh was placed under arrest for murder. The community is outraged by the Police Department's response. "The Fort Pierce Police Department allows an armed murder suspect to peacefully surrender and uses force on a victim who called 911," said Community Activist and Sweeties owner Rick Reed. After the murders, the community took to the street to protest the mistreatment by the business owners and the Police Department. "We are tired of these people coming from other countries in our neighborhood and treating us like dogs, pulling guns out, and shooting people down," said Robert Bond Sr.
Days later, the police department held "Unity in the Community" at Lawnwood Park and touted their community relations. "The Police will stand with neighbors at a park but will not stand with victims at a crime scene," Reed said. "They serve cotton candy to a few and bologna sandwiches to most."
The Deputy Director of the City of Fort Pierce Public Works Department, Derrick Johnson, was accused of exposure of sexual organs to a minor child and two adult neighbors in 2020 prompting the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to send an arrest warrant to the State Attorney's Office for review.
A second individual confirmed the neighbors account.
The incident occurred while Johnson was outside his home cutting his grass when he began arguing with a neighbor.
Deputies referred the case to detectives to investigate the matter.
In a statement the neighbor wrote for Sheriff's Deputies, it is alleged that Johnson said, "I'm going to kill you pussy nigga." The neighbor further told Deputies that Johnson stepped onto the road, pulled his penis from his pants, and said, "Suck my dick."
When another Deputy on-scene asked a juvenile who was present what they saw, the child said, "his penis." Two other neighbors Deputies talked to said they were unfamiliar with the incident.
When investigators questioned Johnson, he told them the neighbor was a former city employee that was fired and trying to make trouble for him. Johnson said that he did not show his penis and was only adjusting his boxers because they had fallen into his jeans, and he was sweaty. The State Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against Johnson.